Divided

Tim Marshall's book "Divided" examines the rise of physical and virtual walls across the globe, with particular focus on barriers constructed in the 21st century. The work surveys notable examples including the Great Wall of China, the Israeli West Bank barrier, and the Mexico-United States border wall. The analysis extends beyond physical barriers to explore digital divisions like China's Great Firewall and social separations manifested in gated communities. Marshall investigates how recent events, including the 2015 European migrant crisis, have influenced border policies and political movements across nations. The book combines historical context, contemporary politics, and socioeconomic factors to examine why societies build walls. Through this framework, Marshall presents an analysis of how barriers reflect deeper divisions in human civilization and what this means for our collective future. The work raises fundamental questions about the paradox of increasing isolation in an era of unprecedented global connectivity, suggesting broader implications about nationalism, sovereignty, and human nature.

Readers found Marshall's analysis of border walls and barriers informative but note it can feel repetitive and lacks depth in certain sections. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanation of complex geopolitical situations - Quality maps and illustrations - Balanced perspective on sensitive political topics - Accessible writing style for non-experts Common criticisms: - Surface-level coverage of some regions - Too much focus on historical background rather than current issues - Similar points repeated across chapters - Limited discussion of solutions or alternatives Reader comment: "Good introduction to border issues but doesn't go deep enough into the human impact" - Goodreads reviewer Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon US: 4.4/5 (400+ ratings) Several readers mentioned the book works better as a primer on border conflicts rather than an in-depth analysis, with one Amazon reviewer noting "It's more descriptive than analytical."

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🌐 The Great Wall of China, discussed extensively in the book, used over 100 million tons of bricks and stone in its construction - enough material to build a small wall around the equator. 🏗️ Author Tim Marshall spent over 30 years as a foreign correspondent for BBC and Sky News, reporting from 40+ countries and experiencing many of the border conflicts he writes about firsthand. 🔒 There are currently more than 70 border walls and security fences between nations worldwide - compared to just 15 when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. 🌍 China's Great Firewall, detailed in the book, employs an estimated 2 million people to monitor and censor online content, making it the world's largest digital barrier. 💰 The average cost of building one mile of border wall is approximately $20 million, with maintenance costs often exceeding the initial construction expense over time.